Authoring software

Hi guys. Please excuse my more basic question that is not about advanced content.

I have a SD DVD I need to convert to HD DVD. I've used the now defunct DVD Maestro to do all my authoring and I am proficient with it. I need a tool, preferably XP compatible, that will allow me to do some HD DVD authoring with that level of flexibility. The only thing I know of is Scenarist and that may be a stretch for my pocketbook.

Are there any other options It is important that the authoring process does not do any recompression of the content.

Thanks, Scott

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Authoring software

BradyGuy
Denny, et.al:

Thanks for the pointer. I'll look it over. I didn't understand teh comment about Sonics part. I was only aware of their one package for the muxing. Were they saying they had some sub-package that can be used to do the muxing

As for Ulead, I need more menu control. I admit I have not looked at theirs but I thought it only had basic "templates" for menus and you did not get full control over the subpicture, etc. I need to create the menu's in an image editor and all teh menu details related to subpicture, button color mapping, etc. I haven't seen a consumer level tool that will allow this with SD DVD. The MediaChance guy has one but he does not have a HD version (yet). I saw where he was poking around here, too. In any case, that is what I need for HD-DVD and BluRay as well.

As for content, I need to build the DVD with static images. ANy moving content is built literally one fram at a time. Ideally to be able to directly encode YCbCr encoded files via framserving. This is for a HD version of my calibration DVD (www.calibrate.tv). Not very pretty I'm afraid, except to us calibrators.
magicalclick
Hi,

it is not true that there is only "Sonic Advanced Content Creation".
There is other softwares, read other thread or DVD Forum list product or CES 2007 news...
There is complete solution (with test tool, emulator,...) approved by DVD Forum.

Golgot13
Terry Fox
A good HD video source for simulating in the iHD Sim is "IMAX - AMAZON" the WMV-HD version (fantastic 1080p). You can just rename the .wmv to .MAP and have them running in the Sim in seconds. They play very well and are great to look at (for clients\bosses) while you develop your interactive content!
albidochon
Denny, et.al:

Thanks for the pointer. I'll look it over. I didn't understand teh comment about Sonics part. I was only aware of their one package for the muxing. Were they saying they had some sub-package that can be used to do the muxing

As for Ulead, I need more menu control. I admit I have not looked at theirs but I thought it only had basic "templates" for menus and you did not get full control over the subpicture, etc. I need to create the menu's in an image editor and all teh menu details related to subpicture, button color mapping, etc. I haven't seen a consumer level tool that will allow this with SD DVD. The MediaChance guy has one but he does not have a HD version (yet). I saw where he was poking around here, too. In any case, that is what I need for HD-DVD and BluRay as well.

As for content, I need to build the DVD with static images. ANy moving content is built literally one fram at a time. Ideally to be able to directly encode YCbCr encoded files via framserving. This is for a HD version of my calibration DVD (www.calibrate.tv). Not very pretty I'm afraid, except to us calibrators.
rix_rix
Sammaz, you have tested both authoring tools: Sony BluPrint and Sonic HDMV/BD-J What is better for you Thanks.
BobH
The jumpstart package is the first and cheapest place to start. Hope you can get a hold of HD source material instead of upscaling SD video otherwise you can't really call it HD DVD since it won't be much High Definition.

Good Luck!
WoFe
Blueprint is 250,000$ and is in permanent beta as most of the original software devs have departed. Sonic's implementation of HDMV/BD-J is derived from what Sonic sees in Blueprint. Therefore BD-J and Sony have a terminal illness. I and most authoring houses have either found this out the hard way or are being informed now.
Szymon Kosok
For Blueprint That is a steal at 60,000$
Alexnaldo Santos
Got a price from Sony yseterday. 'bout $60,000. Too rich for my one commercial DVD.
LeoXue
Like all new standard it is hard at beginning. I remember , to my mind, the problem with DVD project and DVD players in 1998-1999....
Blu-Print is good software more simple than Scenarist BD (hard to make a menu...) and there is a H264 encoder inside no need to buy it
(I see it on demo show: it is Mainconcept SDK too, like CineVision... :) )

Golgot13
Jodie West
Get the HD-DVD jumpstart package from Microsoft and read all of the docs and open all of the demos and emulate them and if you have any sense you will understand the format quickly.

The only thing you will need Sonic Advanced Content Creation for is to mux your video\audio
Nitesh Ambastha
You should fire your translator.
watch is
" You can just rename the .wmv to .MAP " can you explain what you want to say

Only change *.wmv by *.map. But the MAP is not file where the video will be.
The video after mux will be on EVO file (I think is better to change .wmv by .evo)

Golgot13
Piroc

Here is an update list of tools for HD-DVD authoring:

http://dvdone.netblender.com/2006/12/14/nextgeneration-dvd-authoring-tools-update-q4-06.aspx

This includes announcements at CES 07. There will be several new announcements for tools that work with Advanced Content on HD-DVDs become more available. If you aren't looking to Advanced Content I recommend Uleads HD Creator tool, it creates good standard DVD Menus in HD-DVD format. Also check the DVD Association's website found here. http://www.dvda.org for some information around the DVD industry. If you or any one knows of any other tools available please feel free to update the list or shoot me an email.

Good Luck!

Denny
Authoring software

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